Obituaries for Feb. 8, 2012

By Baker City Herald February 08, 2012 05:49 pm

Norman Miller

Norman Elmer Miller, 85, of Bradenton, Fla., a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 4, 2012.

His funeral was Tuesday at the First Church of the Nazarene of Bradenton. Burial with military honors was afterward at the Sarasota National Cemetery at Sarasota, Fla. Covell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Norman was a very devoted husband and father, family members said. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Norman was a journeyman electrician, entrepreneur and security guard. He was an avid fisherman and a cowboy at heart, his family said. Norman loved horses and broke broncs from the age of 14.

Norman served as head greeter at most of his son, Tony’s, churches. He belonged to the First Church of the Nazarene of Bradenton where his son Tony is senior pastor. Norman served and loved the Lord Jesus Christ for almost 50 years.

Christine Elizabeth McAllister, 61, of Emmett, Idaho, died Jan. 24, 2012, as the result of an automobile accident in Baker County.

No memorial service is planned at this time.

Christine was born on Feb. 24, 1950, at Boise to Richard L. and Mary JoAnn Slifka Miller. She attended Crook County High School at Prineville, graduating in 1968. She then attended Central Oregon Community College at Bend for a year. On May 4, 1973, she married Donald McAllister at Seattle, Wash.

Chris worked as a travel agent for several years. She and her husband traveled extensively through her agency. They enjoyed China, Australia, Tahiti, Bora Bora and Cancun among other destinations throughout the world.

They were involved with their Old Car Club, restoring vintage cars and going on “cruises” with their car club. Weekends and day trips found them with their dog and a lunch, just driving and exploring throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho wherever the side roads took them. They referred to them as “Billy Trips”. She was also involved with Seattle Women in Travel during her years in the business. She served as secretary for their car club.

Survivors include her mother, JoAnn Miller of Prineville; one brother, Bradley Miller, and his wife, Jennifer, of Vancouver, Wash.; one sister, Deborah Holcomb, and her husband, Richard, of Oakland, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Kimberly Johnson, and three stepgrandchildren of Lacey, Wash.; five nieces, one nephew and her feline companion of 17 years, Emmy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, in 2001; and by her father, Richard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pet Adoption League through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Friends and family may pay their respects on Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave., Staten Island, N.Y., where a service will begin at 8 p.m. Interment with honors will be later at Arlington National Cemetery.

Burl was born and raised at Baker City. The former lumberjack entered military service in World War II, fought in the Pacific Theater, and over the course of his 26-year career, served multiple tours in Korea, German, France and Vietnam, as well as Washington, D.C.,

Fort Tilden and Governors Island, N.Y., Fort Dix, N.J., Fort Benning, Ga. and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. While stationed at Fort Tilden he met and married his life-long companion, Rosemary, a young widow with two small children.

After his return from a tour with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam and retirement with the rank of sergeant first class in 1969, he embarked on a career in banking with Bankers Trust, and later with Manufacturers Hanover.

Burl and Rosemary moved from Brooklyn to Staten Island in 1977. A lifelong avid bowler, in retirement he founded the “Golden Oldies” senior bowling league on Staten Island. In keeping with his passion for bowling, as a volunteer at Bayley Seton Hospital and under the auspices of the Auxiliary, he was the “founding father” of their annual “Bowl-a-thon” fundraising event benefitting scholarships for the Physicians Assistants School.

He continued to lead the event for the next 10 years and was honored in 1994 with the Dr. Richard Bayley Humanitarian Award for his efforts. Burl was also a regular at the Empire State Senior Olympics, and over the years was awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in bowling events. He was also a member of the Staten Island Bowling Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Rosemary; his son, Richard Sherman; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Anne and Michael Voutour, and granddaughter, Carrie Ann Sherman; and a host of relatives in the Baker City area, including his nephews, Larry and Clifford Cole, and Ralph Cole of Mountain Home, Idaho.